Protests once again flared up in cities across Iran. As economic crises deepened and livelihood pressures increased, various Iranian cities witnessed protest gatherings by different social and occupational groups on Sunday, June 14. Retirees, bakers, motorcycle delivery drivers, and victims of an economic fraud case took to the streets with different demands but a common underlying grievance, protesting the authorities’ failure to address their concerns. The breadth of these protests once again demonstrated that livelihood-related protests have become one of the most significant expressions of public dissatisfaction in the country.
Livelihood Protests by Financial Victims; Six Years of Waiting for Justice
A group of victims of the “Fardadkar Amitis” company gathered in front of the Tehran Prosecutor’s Office to protest the prolonged handling of their case. The protesters say that despite six years having passed since the case was opened, it has still not been referred to court.
According to the protesters, the delay in judicial proceedings has not only imposed heavy financial losses on them but has also caused significant emotional and psychological hardship for the families involved. They called for an immediate resolution of the case and the start of judicial proceedings.
Bakers; When Bread Becomes a Crisis
In North Khorasan Province, bakers gathered in front of the governor’s office to protest reductions in flour allocations, unfulfilled promises by officials, and the lack of results from their follow-up efforts. The protesters said that production costs have risen steadily in recent months. Higher energy costs, workers’ wages, rent, and other expenses have made it difficult for many bakeries to continue operating. Under such conditions, reductions in flour quotas have placed additional pressure on the sector. The bakers also criticized the performance of the responsible trade bodies and called for immediate action to address flour supply problems and reform distribution policies.
Livelihood Protests by Retirees in Several Cities
Retirees from the Social Security Organization, retired teachers, and retired telecommunications employees once again held protest gatherings in different cities across the country. These protests took place in Tehran, Shush, Ahvaz, Mashhad, and Kermanshah.
In Shush, retirees gathered in front of the Social Security Office and demanded the immediate payment of overdue adjustments related to pension equalization, increases in pensions in line with living costs, improved healthcare services, and expanded welfare benefits.
In Tehran, Social Security retirees, retired teachers, and retired telecommunications workers gathered outside the Social Security Organization, demanding payment of overdue claims, full implementation of pension equalization measures, and improvements in healthcare services. Through chants protesting the gap between incomes and living expenses, the demonstrators expressed their dissatisfaction.
In Ahvaz and Mashhad, retirees also gathered outside Social Security offices with similar demands. They called for pension increases in line with inflation, payment of overdue benefits, and improvements in insurance and healthcare coverage.
In Kermanshah, retirees chanted slogans about rising prices, healthcare problems, and living conditions, demanding immediate attention to their concerns. The protesters emphasized that increasing living costs and declining purchasing power have created difficult circumstances for this segment of society.
Motorcycle Delivery Drivers; Lower Income, Higher Costs
In Shiraz, motorcycle delivery drivers working with Snapp, Iran’s largest ride-hailing and delivery platform, joined the protests. The drivers protested high commissions, heavy taxes, low delivery fees, the removal of fuel subsidies, and the lack of insurance coverage.
According to the drivers, living expenses and work-related costs continue to rise while their incomes have not increased proportionately. The protesters stressed that under these conditions, covering even basic living expenses has become difficult for many of them.
Livelihood Protests; A Common Voice Across Different Social Groups
The common thread among all of these gatherings was opposition to economic pressures and the failure to address occupational and livelihood-related demands. From financial victims who have waited years for judicial action, to retirees complaining about declining purchasing power, and bakers and drivers struggling with rising costs, all described conditions that have made everyday life increasingly difficult.
